The one time during the baseball season that Chicago Cubs fans dread is coming soon.
This is known as the fire sale for fans during their past two seasons.
However, everyone else calls it the trade deadline.
But no matter how people view this time, it’s a time where the ownership in Chicago tosses aside their top-tier talent.
Instead of building around the talented players they have, they would rather trade them away.
Well, there’s three players the Cubs must not trade before the deadline.
3. Mychal Givens
Mychal Givens has been a solid bullpen arm for the Cubs in 2022.
He’s actually one of the best pitchers by ERA on the staff for the season.
Only two other bullpen arms have a better ERA than him, and they are Scott Effross and David Robertson.
So with him having such a good season, it’s made him have a high trade value.
Mychal Givens trade value 📈
— Cody Delmendo (@Cody_CHGO) July 16, 2022
However, it would be a mistake to trade him away after getting him this year.
It would be better to keep him around for at least another season to give their bullpen a skillful player for next season.
Keeping him would also give younger players an experienced pitcher to help them as they come up through the Cubs system.
2. Ian Happ
Another player whose fate is unknown is Ian Happ.
With his contract coming up next season, the team could trade him like they did Anthony Rizzo last year.
His .279 batting average after the weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies makes him a solid bat for any lineup.
However, it’s the reason the Cubs should keep that bat in their lineup.
With him being that solid offensive bat in the Cubs lineup, fans are asking for him to get an extension.
They need to start building a real offense.
Start by extending Ian Happ now. He seems to really want to be here and is a good offensive player.
— Tim Powers (@TimPowers1974) July 11, 2022
There’s truth in that statement of the Cubs needing to build a real offense.
But is ownership willing to do this by keeping Happ?
They should if they want to keep fans happy.
However, there’s one other player they shouldn’t trade at all and extend before this trade deadline comes.
1. Willson Contreras
A trade of Willson Contreras is a surefire way to anger the Cubs fanbase.
However, he’s been the talk of trade rumors for most of 2022.
With his contract expiring this year and no sign of an extension, he could be gone here soon.
But it would be a colossal mistake by the Cubs’ ownership to make this move.
Contreras is one of the top ten catchers with weighed runs created since 2000.
Weighted Runs Created (wRC+) by MLB catchers since 2000:
T1. Alejandro Kirk 132
T1. Will Smith 132
3. Buster Posey 129
4. Jorge Posada 127
5. Mike Piazza 125
6. Joe Mauer 123
T7. Mitch Garver 119
T7. Mike Napoli 119
T9. Yasmani Grandal 118
T9. Willson Contreras 118— Kevin Papetti (@KPapetti) June 11, 2022
With his bat in the lineup, he gives the Cubs a chance to stay close in games.
He’s also a fan favorite and wants to stay with the Cubs.
With these factors, the Cubs would be smart to keep him around.
Having a great bat, run producer, and all round fan favorite is something the Cubs need going into 2023.
He’s the guy that can help energize a rally and the fans.
Cubs fans won’t forgive ownership if they make the mistake of trading him before the deadline.
NEXT: Cubs Sweep Of Phillies Shows Fans The Team Is Still Good